21 Para Athletes Benefit From Sport Ireland Carding Scheme

Para Athletes were well represented in the Sport Ireland Carding Scheme announcements with 21 athletes receiving varying levels of funding. Para Cycling duo of Eve McCrystal and Katie George Dunlevy along with Para Athletes; Jason Smyth, Michael McKillop, Niamh McCarthy, Noelle Lenihan and Orla Barry joined Para Swimmer, Ellen Keane in being named as Podium level athletes and receiving the maximum funding available.

Sport Ireland has announced details of the 2018 International Carding Scheme and Team Ireland Golf Scheme.

The €1,900,000 investment of the International Carding Scheme will support over 90 athletes (69 Olympic and 21 Paralympic) and 12 athletes on the top category of Podium funding.

Minister for Tourism & Sport, Brendan Griffin TD said “Today’s substantial investment through the International Carding Scheme will support our most talented sports people and I want to commend every athlete who has qualified for funding in 2018. They have earned the support through exceptional performances and they are excellent ambassadors for Irish Sport as they continue to represent our country, around the world”.

The clear aim of the International Carding Scheme is to ensure that athletes can prepare effectively for major championships including European, World, Olympic and Paralympic Games. 2018 sees the addition of a number of exciting prospects for the future including: Rhys McClenaghan (Gymnastics Ireland), Megan Fletcher (Judo) and Mona McSharry (Swimming) who are all new to the Scheme.

These young athletes join some of Ireland’s most experienced and successful athletes including Paul and Gary O’Donovan (Rowing), Annalise Murphy (Sailing) and Thomas Barr (Athletics). Sport Ireland is delighted to welcome these new talents and will continue to support their respective National Governing Bodies towards Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. In addition to the direct investment, athletes will have access to science, medicine and lifestyle support services at Sport Ireland Institute.

The International Carding Scheme will continue to evolve under the direction of the Performance Director of each sport throughout this Tokyo cycle and beyond. Since 2012, on a phased basis, a number of sports have taken over the management of the international Scheme. These sports are known as ‘Transition Sports’. In 2018 Paralympics Ireland will become the 8th Transition Sport to directly manage their para swimming and para athletics programmes. Transition Sports now include

· Athletics Ireland

· Cycling Ireland

· Swim Ireland

· Rowing Ireland

· Triathlon Ireland

· Irish Sailing Association

· Badminton Ireland

· Paralympics Ireland

The International Carding Scheme is one element of the investment strategy of Sport Ireland for 2018. Earlier this year Sport Ireland announced €7m to be invested directly into the high performance programmes of 20 National Governing Bodies. Investment will also be made to the Olympic Council of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland. At the end of 2017, the Minister announced €380k in targeted funding for major events due to take place in 2018, with €320k of this allocated to 4 high performance sports.

Chairman of Sport Ireland, Kieran Mulvey, commented “2017 was an excellent year for Irish sport with impressive European and World performances at senior and junior level. In order to sustain this success, it is vital that our athletes are well supported. The Tokyo Games are just on the horizon with qualification getting underway. Sport Ireland will continue to work closely with the Olympic Council and Paralympics Ireland and continue to provide support as we build up to the 2020 Games. We must continue to develop our High Performance system so that we can be competitive in international sport and the refinement of the Carding Scheme is an essential element of that process”.

With regard to the Scheme’s eligibility rules, 2017 was the first year where an ‘earnings cap’ was introduced for players applying for support. Players that won over €250,000 in total prize money in the season immediately prior are not eligible to receive financial support through the Scheme. These players are still eligible to receive non-financial support.

Carded Para Athletes (2018)

Badminton Ireland (Para)

Niall McVeigh

International

€12,000.00

Canoeing Ireland (Para)

Patrick O’Leary

World Class

€20,000.00

Cycling Ireland (Para)

Colin Lynch

World Class

€20,000.00

Cycling Ireland (Para)

Katie George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal

Podium

€60,000.00

Cycling Ireland (Para)

Peter Ryan & Sean Hahessy

International

€18,000.00

Cycling Ireland (Para)

Ronan Grimes

International

€12,000.00